Dickens brings ‘A Christmas Carol’ to life

PORTSMOUTH — Charles Dickens most likely would have been proud of his great-great-grandson Gerald Dickens Saturday.

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By Suzanne Laurent

seacoastonline.com

By Suzanne Laurent

Posted Dec. 21, 2013 at 6:48 PM
Updated Dec 21, 2013 at 6:51 PM

By Suzanne Laurent

Posted Dec. 21, 2013 at 6:48 PM
Updated Dec 21, 2013 at 6:51 PM

» Social News

PORTSMOUTH — Charles Dickens most likely would have been proud of his great-great-grandson Gerald Dickens Saturday.

The descendent of the estimable author brought his solo production of “A Christmas Carol” during two performances to packed audiences at the North Church, presented by Open Stage Events LLC.

It was fitting somehow as Portsmouth was the final stop on his 2013 American tour and it was in the city named for Charles Dickens’ birthplace, Portsmouth, England.

“This is my first time here to Portsmouth,” Dickens said after the show. “I’m hoping to visit it a bit as my plane doesn’t leave until 6 p.m. tomorrow from Boston.” He lives in Oxford, England.

This is Dickens’ 20th year performing the well-known tale of the great miser Ebenezer Scrooge. In 1993, he was approached about performing a one-man show of “A Christmas Carol” on the 150th anniversary of the story’s publication.

After becoming enthralled with the many characters in the book, Dickens realized his great-great-grandfather was also a theatrical man.

During the 75-minute performance, Dickens captures the audience not only with his ability to switch between the many characters, but also by adding in a line or two to draw a laugh. For instance, he likened the bustle of Christmas morning to Black Friday.

He also pulled out some “oohs and ahhs” from the audience as he described the Cratchit family’s goose and pudding.

Jim and Patti Piper of Rye said they really enjoyed the show, which had no intermission.

“It was brilliant,” Jim Piper said. “The script was true to Dickens’ words and the voice changes were true characterizations.”

Jenny Shaw of Portsmouth said the show “connects to the past.” “It’s great to see a classic like this,” she said.

Another theatergoer, Heather Vanpelt of Portsmouth, said she is originally from Ipswich, England, a place where Charles Dickens stayed at the White Horse Hotel.

While Shaw said she likes the visits from the three ghosts in the story, Vanpelt said she likes how Scrooge finally changes in the end “to become a more spiritual being.”

Peg Farwell of Wolfeboro also enjoyed the production. Her son, Bradford Farwell, is a 1987 graduate of the University of New Hampshire where he majored in mathematics and theater. Ironically, she said he was currently performing in a production of “A Christmas Carol” in Seattle, Wash.

After the mesmerizing performance, Dickens graciously signed programs and books and received a very special Christmas card from Portsmouth artist Lance Hellman. The card had pen and ink drawings of scenes from the play.

The Rev. Christopher Lanzara of Dover and a friend, Celeste McQuarrie, also of Dover, said the play was excellent as well.

“Years ago, before movies, authors used to act out their books,” Lanzara said.